Condensation reaction, any of a class of organic reactions in which two molecules combine, usually in the presence of a catalyst, with elimination of water or some other simple molecule. The combination of two identical molecules is known as self-condensation. Aldehydes, ketones, esters, alkynes (acetylenes), and amines are among several organic compounds that combine with each other and, except for amines, among themselves to form larger molecules, many of which are useful intermediate compounds in organic syntheses. Catalysts commonly used in condensation reactions include acids, bases, the cyanide ion, and complex metal ions.

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The formation of a single bond between two molecules, or two parts of the same molecule, accompanied by the elimination of water (or another small molecule such as an alcohol) is a condensation reaction. Many polymerization reactions are condensation reactions. For example, the polymer nylon-6,6 is produced by the repeated condensation of hexanedioic acid with hexamethylenediamine.

...reactions not shown yield different by-products—for example, hydrochloric acid. Because of this loss of compounds during the polymerization process, reactions of this type are often called condensation reactions. Not all step-growth reactions are condensation reactions, however; some do not yield any by-product. One example is the reaction between benzene-1,4-diisocyanate and ethylene...